Could Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Be Stripped of Their "Sussex" Title?

There's a petition on the Brighton and Hove City Council website that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry be stripped of their "Sussex" title.

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  • Reported in multiple outlets, there's a petition on the Brighton and Hove City Council website—Brighten and Hove is a city in Sussex—that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry be stripped of their "Sussex" title.
  • It reads, in part, "As residents of Brighton and Hove we call on Brighton and Hove Council to not refer to these individuals by such titles which we believe to be entirely non democratic and symbolic of the oppression of the general public by the wealthy elite."
  • Meghan and Harry, who may already be in the U.S. for the holidays, have (smartly) not commented.

In the latest news I'm filing under "really, really stupid," campaigner Charles Ross started a petition on the Brighton and Hove City Council website in July 2019, about removing the "Sussex" title from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It's been signed by 3,700 people, and insultingly reads like this:

We the undersigned petition Brighton & Hove Council to reject the usage of the titles "Duke of Sussex" and "Duchess of Sussex" by the individuals Henry ("Harry") Windsor and Rachel Meghan Markle as morally wrong and disrespectful to the county of East Sussex. As residents of Brighton and Hove we call on Brighton and Hove Council to not refer to these individuals by such titles which we believe to be entirely non democratic and symbolic of the oppression of the general public by the wealthy elite. Neither will Brighton Council invite or entertain these individuals nor afford them any hospitality or courtesies above and beyond that of an ordinary member of the public.

The Council is set to vote on it, but is unlikely to back it—also, they apparently have no say in the matter anyways, as the Queen would be the one to confer or take away the title. The Sussexes, who may already be in the United States with Meghan's mom Doria Ragland to celebrate the holidays, did not comment. Which, good for them, TBH. The Sussex account, instead of highlighting the news, has instead chosen to share quotes of love and tolerance:

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal)

A photo posted by on

Also, the petition was slammed by Thomas Mace-Archer-Mills, founder of the British Monarchists Society. "We are utterly dismayed that said petition has been signed by so many...Such a petition shows utter disdain and contempt for The Crown, not to mention copious amounts of disrespect to, and for, the Royal Family which undertakes thousands of engagements per year on behalf of the nation, in right of Her Majesty as The Crown."

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Katherine J. Igoe
Katherine J. Igoe
Contributing Editor

Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award. 

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.